§ MR. D. H. MACFARLANE (Argyll) for Dr. G. B. CLARK (Caithness)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether any arrangements have been entered into with regard to the construction of any of the proposed railways to the West Highlands?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)Her Majesty's Government have accepted an offer, made by the promoters of the railway from Fort William to Mallaig, to construct the railway and the necessary harbour at Mallaig, provided that a dividend of three per cent. for thirty years is guaranteed on the sum of £260,000, being the estimated cost of the line, and a grant of £30,000 is made from public funds towards the cost of the harbour. It is understood that the line 327 when made will be worked by the North British Railway Company. It is not known what progress has been made by the promoters; and there is some uncertainty whether they are yet in a position to carry out their proposals.